LETTERS: MARQUETTE HOTEL REPRESENTS CITY'S CULTURAL HERITAGE

~Correction: The Marquette was NOT designed by Barnett. The designer was the architectural firm of Bartling & Manske of St. Louis; supervising architect was R.K. Knox of Cape Girardeau.

To the editor:

Cape Girardeau's heritage is under attack. First it was the old St. Francis Hospital building which was recently torn down. Now it's the Marquette Hotel. The city has given the owner 120 days to sell the Marquette Hotel or make needed repairs after which the city can proceed with demolition.

The Marquette Hotel has stood in Cape Girardeau for nearly 75 years and is the last surviving hotel in the downtown area. It is significant not only for its cultural heritage, but also for its architecture by the T. B. Barnett architectural firm, the same people who designed the Southeast Missourian building, Hecht's store and B'nai Israel Synagogue.

During the condemnation meeting at City Hall, it was indicated the hotel is structurally sound. The problem lies in finding a buyer with the funds to purchase the building. This takes time, possibly longer than 120 days.

I urge citizens of Cape Girardeau to write the mayor and city council members and let them know that allowing the Marquette Hotel to be demolished would result in an irreplaceable loss. The history of Cape Girardeau cannot be recreated. Once it's gone, it's gone forever.

JEREMY WELLS

Cape Girardeau